JAMES WELDON JOHNSON PARK LOOKS TO FUTURE OF RENOVATIONS
STILL S TA N D I N G
Words by Mallory Pace and photos provided by JWJ Organization Since its founding in 1822, Jacksonville has seen its fair share of makeovers
As Downtown continues to grow and expand its residential opportunities,
and evolution. Buildings go up, statues come down, bridges are built, roads
McCoy explained that one priority for the park’s redesign is to be an amenity
are paved, but very few sites and structures remain unscathed. For over 200
for future residents and continue to be a place for people to gather, socialize
years, one park, located at the core of Downtown, has kept its purpose and
and have fun. Along with making the park more green with grass and plants,
sentiment: James Weldon Johnson Park. While its name has changed a few
McCoy is also looking toward being green with sustainability and conserva-
times over the years, the park stands as the soul of Jacksonville, and it has
tion, honoring its history.
big plans. “We want to make sure we are a place where people can come to reflect, a Friends of James Weldon Johnson Park is a nonprofit organization that has
place where people can engage with each other, meet their neighbors and
managed the park’s day-to-day activities and events since 2014. By maintain-
also engage with City Hall,” McCoy said.
ing the parks’ liveliness and appearance, their goal is to keep the park active and vibrant in hopes of boosting Downtown in a more social and positive
What makes the park so significant is its rich history as a significant land-
way. In July of 2022, the organization announced the completion of a three-
mark of the city. The 1.5 acre public square was a gleam in Isaiah Hart’s eye,
year strategic plan that aims to create improvements to the park’s environ-
Jacksonville’s very first city planner, as he created the original blueprints for
ment and dynamics. Liz McCoy, executive director of the nonprofit, said the
the downtown area in 1822. A lot has changed since then; buildings and busi-
city applied for a Florida grant for organizations that are either named after,
nesses have come and gone, activity and liveliness fluctuate, crime spikes
or benefited by African-Americans. With the approval of that grant, the park
and new additions replace old ones. Remodels and renovations are inevi-
received $1 million to which the city council had to match by 25%, making a
table, and since the heirs of Isaiah Hart sold the park to the city in 1866 for
total of $1.25 million being designated for the park’s remodel. The money was
a whopping $10, the park has seen its fair share of changes. Here’s some
also used for certain demolitions, including the park’s fountains because of
history:
their old age and costly upkeep, McCoy explained. Grass was laid in its place, giving people a taste of what’s to come. Plans are still in the design phase as
When the park was first sold to the city of Jacksonville, it was named, simply
details and public opinion continue to be worked on and perfected, but the
and fittingly, City Park. Then in 1869, the St. James hotel was built across the
future is bright.
street and the park was renamed St. James Park. Thirty years later, Civil War veteran Charles C. Hemming donated a Confederate monument to the park,
“We want to make sure that whatever’s in the new design, there’s going to
renaming it Hemming Park. Then the Great Fire of 1901 burned and destroyed
be a lot more grass and soft landscaping, so that it will be more inviting and
most of Jacksonville’s downtown area, though, Charles C. Hemming’s monu-
more appealing,” McCoy said.
ment remained intact. In 1977, the park was transformed into a plaza as bricks and pavers replaced the lawn and natural landscape. In 2020, then-Mayor
As it stands today, the park is recognized as the hub of commerce and home
Lenny Curry ordered the Confederate statue to be removed from the park “as
to community gatherings within the downtown area. In 2021, the park drew an
the start of a commitment to everyone in our city that we will find a way to
estimated 86,000 visitors, according to the JWJ Park website. On any given
respect each other and thrive.”
day, you’ll find the park attracting all kinds of people who are likely grabbing a bite to eat at one of the rotating food trucks that sit in the park each week-
This decision was celebrated by the city, especially as the 2020 Black Lives
day. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, you’ll hear live music filling the
Matter movement was stirring through the country and inciting change. Cur-
streets and lifting spirits. The park also hosts monthly festivals for various
ry’s decision to remove the statue was made just as a Black Lives Matter pro-
holidays and special events, like Viva la Fiesta, Brew & BBQ and Art in the
test was scheduled to happen in and around the park. McCoy explained that
Park, each drawing thousands of attendees. McCoy also emphasized the im-
instead of a march, it became a victory celebration. Later that year, Jackson-
portance of special events being done authentically. That means partnering
ville’s City Council voted to rename the park to honor James Weldon Johnson.
with appropriate cultural groups and sponsors to create an accurate, genuine representation of what or who the festival is celebrating.
14 Folio Weekly
